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The roundtable "Strengthening the Governance of Creative Cities," facilitated by UNESCO, took place on March 28th at the United Nations House in San José, Costa Rica. This platform enabled representatives from the UNESCO Creative Cities of San José and Panama City to share experiences, compare management models, and explore new strategies to integrate creativity into urban development. Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) — Panama City in 2017 and San José in 2019 — both cities have implemented initiatives to bolster creativity’s role in their urban landscapes.

The hybrid session combined in-person and virtual participation. Moderated by UNESCO, the event featured presentations from both cities’ teams and three discussion blocks focused on the institutional architecture of Creative Cities, engagement with creative communities, and innovative approaches to creative governance.

Notable attendees included the Mayor of San José as host, members of the Creative Cities’ coordination teams, and officials from the Ministries of Culture of Costa Rica and Panama.

The roundtable reaffirmed both cities’ commitment to UCCN principles, solidifying their positions within the network and their roles as leaders in their respective categories (Design for Panama City and Gastronomy for San José). Through dialogue and best-practice exchanges, participants identified opportunities to better integrate creativity into urban planning and strengthen collaboration with public, private, and community stakeholders.

The meeting produced key insights to enhance Creative Cities’ management, emphasizing multisectoral participation and innovative policy design. UNESCO will systematize the outcomes to guide future actions, promoting more effective and sustainable governance models.

This initiative underscores San José and Panama’s ongoing efforts to advance their strategies within the Creative Cities Network, reaffirming creativity as a catalyst for urban development and transformation.